NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana has denied motions from the Bankers Insurance Company and Bankers Surety Services to have alleged RICO violations made of the companies stricken from official statements, and for sanctions to be levied against the plaintiffs.
The companies were named as alleged conspirators in a failed case levied against Blair's Bail Bonds regarding multiple alleged RICO violations and other allegations including kidnapping, extortion and false imprisonment. They requested to have the allegations removed from existence, citing that the original plaintiffs know the claims are untrue. They had also tried to differentiate their actions from those of Blair's.
Ronald Egana filed the original failed lawsuit against Blair’s, claiming that the bail bonds service had kidnapped and extorted him for payment regarding a bail charge he had posted in 2016.
Judge Jane T. Milazzo
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In an official ruling on May 13, District Judge Jane T. Milazzo denied the motion, citing the defendants’ inability to prove the “plaintiffs acted in bad faith,” even if the claims were proven to not be based on “any cognizable evidence.” Furthermore, Milazzo found that the defendants “have not identified any way in which the allegations have caused them prejudice,” and the plaintiffs had already withdrawn such claims against them.
Regarding the calls for sanctions, Milazzo found that the “plaintiffs’ actions in this case have not risen to the level of bad faith,” and that they had “reasonably investigated their claims.” Thus, the defendants’ calls for sanctions could not be granted.